However, according to Dewi Suhartini, head of the Social Affairs Ministry's Kartini Integrated Center which provides the site for the Sekolah Rakyat's operation, only 100 of the registered candidates would be admitted.
"Our initial plan was to admit 50 pupils, but Mr. President (Prabowo Subianto) has ordered the number to be doubled. Therefore, we decided to receive 100 pupils this year," she said in Temanggung on Sunday.
Suhartini emphasized that the Kartini Integrated Center had prepared proper and adequate facilities for its students, including classrooms and dormitories.
"Our assessment has shown that the school has the capacity to accommodate 100 pupils," she said.
Regarding educational facilities, she noted that the center is equipped with a science laboratory, a library, a computer room, a language-learning space, and rooms for extracurricular activities.
She added that the school would also provide students with access to a variety of supporting amenities, such as a multifunction tennis court, a futsal court, a ceremonial area, separate dining halls for male and female pupils, and washing rooms.
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"We intend to encourage all pupils to engage in activities that suit their interests. The selection process, which includes health checks, is still ongoing," she pointed out.
During his visit to the school site earlier on the same day, Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf assured the public that the government would strive to ensure the Sekolah Rakyat admissions remain free of nepotism.
To that end, he stated that the process involves oversight by various parties, including school operators, local authorities, Statistics Indonesia (BPS), and officers involved in the Family Hope Program (PKH).
Yusuf also called for public participation, urging community members to help ensure that only children from poor or extremely poor families are admitted.
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Translator: Heru S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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